Need not be hysterical on political correctness: Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi

Excessive anxiety to take 'politically correct' postures may become counter-productive, and can even turn dangerous on occasions, warns celebrated Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi who was honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the ongoing 43rd International film festival of India (IFFI).

TNN | Nov 23, 2012, 06.20 AM IST

PANAJI: Excessive anxiety to take 'politically correct' postures may become counter-productive, and can even turn dangerous on occasions, warns celebrated Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Zanussi, who was honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the ongoing 43rd International film festival of India (IFFI).

"The tendency is already taking a toll on the academic and creative fields. It can stifle efforts for honest pursuit and expression of divergent views on reality,'' Zanussi said.

Talking to TOI before leaving Goa, Zanussi, who was an iconic figure in the struggle against the erstwhile autocratic Stalinist regimes of East Europe, cited his own example to illustrate his concern."I wanted to make a film on a man committed to the values of humanism and justice being subjugated by a group of women who control a corporate conglomerate. These women want him to mindlessly follow the rules of the corporate which are anti-human. But he refuses to bend.''

"The film was denied finance by the panel which controls Polish government finances to films. The women in the panel thought the proposed film would be anti-feminist, and insisted that it should not be made.''

"It was the first time in my more than 40 years of association with cinema that somebody was telling me,"a film should not be made because they don't want it to be made". I couldn't make films for the last two years for lack of finances. Even during the Communist regime, I had not had such an experience,'' said the 73-year old film maker, whose legendary films'Illumination', 'The Constant Factor', 'Imperative', 'Persona Non Grata' had celebrated the human pursuit of values like truth, justice and freedom in its multiple dimensions.

"You know it is easy to form coteries and maneuver decision-making processes in democracies. This subtle form of censorship can equally stifle creativity, just as totalitarian regimes,'' he said.

"Now I have got a producer for that film and it will be made as a Polish-Russian-Italian coproduction and will be released next year, probably'' he said.

Zanussi however is still unrelenting in his attacks against the erstwhile communist regime in his country. "The plight of people in Poland is much better than what it had been under the communist government. There is a three-fold increase in the number of people getting access to education now in our country. Healthcare is also accessible to more number of people now. There is overall growth. However, there is a growing disparity among people. Democracy has limitations, but it is any day far better than totalitarian regimes. Market has tyrannical dimensions, but it can be tempered to a great extent with appropriate laws.''

Zanussi says he is trying to evolve a balanced view of the various issues humanity is facing. "It is alright to be silly and aggressive when you are young. But the wisdom that we acquire as we advance in age, should persuade us to take a balanced view.''

This quest for 'balance' gets quickly gets reflected in his views on censorship. "Censorship is an ugly method of improving our life. The police states tackle this problem in a harsh way, while democratic nations do it in a far more reasonable manner. However I can't deny that there are dangers of people with ulterior motives abusing the possibilities of communication thrown open by facilities like Internet to spread ideas that can harm the lives of many others. So it may not be possible to deride censorship unilaterally.''

His comments on Indian cinema are also in this direction of balance. He pays rich tributes to the commercial cinema for its fidelity towards the authentic Indian culture and dramatic traditions. However, he is immensely articulate on the high esteem he has about Indian avant-garde films.

Even though acclaimed as director, scriptwriter, and TV programme producer as well as a theatre personality, Zanussi says his best film is yet to be made."I'm still in that stage of evolution, '' says Zanussi, who has made over 80 films.

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